Accordion reed construction



Dec. 8, 1959 c. MARIANO 2,915,933

AccoRnIoN REED CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. so, 1957 C' l/arzano INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O ACCORDION REED CONSTRUCTION Connie Mariano, Keiser, Pa.

Application September '30, 1957, Serial No. 687,192

2 Claims. (Cl. 84-363) 'I'his invention relates to musical instruments and particularly to musical instruments of the accordion or freereed type.

By way of explanation, it might be stated that 1n conventional accordion reed construction, a valve plate 1s provided which is formed with a pair of parallel spaced slots with identical accordion reeds secured over the slots at opposite sides of the plate, the reed vibrating in opposite directions according to the movement of the bellows of the accordion in producing the same note, when air is forced against one reed upon compression of the bellows, the adjacent corresponding reed vibrating to produce the same note upon expansion of the accordion bellows.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an accordion reed construction wherein a single reed is so arranged that the single reed is capable of vibrating to provide a particular note, with the compression or expansion movements of the bellows in producing the air for operating the accordion reeds, thereby reducing the weight and number of component parts in the accordion reed construction to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of independent units in the form of reed plates with air valves operating in opposite directions and arranged on opposite sides of the reed plate for controlling the passage of air through the reed opening of the reed plate, the individual reed plates being readily remov able to permit repairs to be made with facility.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an plan view of a reed unit, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the reverse side of the reed element.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevational view of the reed unit.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the unit.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reeds of the accordion constructed in accordance with the present invention, will be made up of a plurality of reed units, each unit comprising a reed plate 5 comprising identical plate sections 6, the plate sections having aligning elongated openings 7 arranged adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the plate, and aligning elongated openings 8 disposed in a line with the longitudinal axis of the plates, the elongated openings 8 providing a space for Lthe tongue 9 which has one of its ends secured between Patented Dec. 8, 1959 ICC the plates, the reed extending longitudinally through the elongated openings 8 with its upper and lower surfaces spaced substantial distances from the upper and lower surfaces of the plate sections so that the tongue may vibrate in either direction and operate to create a note regardless of whether the bellows of the accordion is moved to expand or contract in producing the necessary air or wind to operate the tongue.

Flap valves 10 and 11 constructed of plastic material are secured to the reed plate, the flap valves operating to simultaneously open and allow air to contact the tongue 9 from either side of the reed plate with the expansion of the bellows of the accordion.

As clearly shown by Figure 4 of the drawing, the sections of the reed plate are curved slightly outwardly at a point adjacent to the vibrating end of the reed providing ample roorn for the action of the tongue 9.

'The opposite ends of the plate sections are connected by means of the adhesive straps 12 that are secured to the ends of the plate sections adjacent to the bolt 13 that secures the plate sections together, which bolt at the same time passes through one end of the tongue 9 securing the tongue in place.

An adhesive strip 14 is extended over the marginal edges of the plate which prevents the escape of air around the edge of the plate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a reed plate specially designed for accordions, wherein only one tongue is required for producing a note on the contraction as well as the expansion movements of the bellows of the accordion, the passage of air to the tongue for vibrating the same being controlled by ap valves operating at opposite side edges of the tongue. It will, therefore, be obvious that with the structure shown the number of tongues used in an accordion may be reduced, reducing the weight and cost of the accordion appreciably.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. An accordion reed unit comprising a pair of spaced plates having aligning elongated tongue openings disposed along the longitudinal axis of said plates, a tongue having ends secured at one of its ends between said spaced plates adjacent to one end of said unit, said tongue adapted to vibrate within said tongue openings, and valves arranged on opposite sides of said tongue openings controlling the passage of air through said unit in opposite directions for vibrating said tongue.

2. An accordion reed unit comprising a pair of spaced plates having aligning elongated tongue openings disposed along the longitudinal axis of said plates, a tongue having side edges and ends secured at one of its ends between said spaced plates adjacent to one end of said unit, said tongue adapted to vibrate within said tongue openings, said plates having aligning elongated valve openings arranged in parallel spaced relation with the side edges of said tongue openings, and flap valves secured between said plates directly over said valve openings, overlying portions of said spaced plates adjacent to said tongue openings, controlling the passage of air through said tongue opening, vibrating said tongue within said tongue openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,296 Bibus Apr. 18, 1950 2,787,928 Magalik et al. Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 961,248 France Nov. 14, 1949 

